The most of you that read my film reviews must know what film this is. Yes, it's the second film of the both adored and hated saga (got it yet?) across the world. Twilight. I'm a strange one. I utterly despise the books...but both films so far have pleasantly surprised me in being quite an enjoyable experience.
The story has a Romeo and Juliet esque, with a slight difference where the Montague's and Capulets are actually Vampires and Werewolves. This does sound promising, and though the books rumble the pits of my stomach with what I ate last night, the film does otherwise, leaving me satisfied, wanting to know more of the story as the films continue. Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) has fallen in love with Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson), Edward is the Vampire, Bella is the human. That's all you need to know, anything else could and probably will cause numerous spoiler alerts in this review, so I shall say no more and review the movie, not story tell.
Let's begin with the good stuff. Stewart has much, much improved her performance from the first film, being much less annoying and really grasping her character in this film, the pain showed after Edward leaves her (No, that's not a spoiler, it showed that in the advert), and though her reaction is rather strange - screaming out loud while you sleep is slightly unnatural to say the least - she gradually loses her pain as she comes closer to Jacob (Taylor Lautner), and then gains it once more when an incident involving Jacob causes her to remember Edward again. Cue un-human screaming once more. But, nevertheless, this is a minor gripe in an otherwise good performance from young Kristen.
Though there is very, very little action, the action it contains is of a good standard coming from a romantic movie, with the Werewolves fighting eachother and Werewolves fighting a Vampire (yes, it only happens once sadly) which is another gripe. I know this is a romance, but come on. There're vampires and werewolves. Action scenes should be a plenty, but sadly it was concentrating on the romance, leaving less than 5 mins of action in the 130 minute film. Poor turn out, Chris Weiz. This is where I prefered the first film, it's action was plentyful, the baseball scene was superb and the climax was one of high tension and good fighting. Though this is another gripe, the film's content is an important crux to the story and possibly to the crux of the entire series its self.
To finish, I pose you all a question. We've all seen this Team Jacob and Team Edward business because, after witnessing the latest installment, they both have impressive labido's. But, the thought I pose to you, is one of wonder. Where the hell is Team Alice?
To sum up, an impressive film that lacked the action the 17 year old male inside me desired, but the story was well told by a group of relatively young actors and very impressive turns from both Michael Sheen (the leader of the Vulturi) and a surprise appearance from Dakota Fanning, playing the creepy Jane, a young vampire with the ability to inflict pain. Chris Weitz has set up for a very interesting 3rd installment, and with (hopefully) more of Sheen and Fanning, it should be a belter.
7/10.
Sunday 29 November 2009
Friday 20 November 2009
The Men Who Stare At Goats
Yet another strange title, and though this film was closer than Imaginarium to a good film, this attempt falls short of the mark, leaving what could've been a hilarious wild ride with all the good people, into a good premise, but a poor finale, quite literally.
The story is one of deep wonder, and bafflement (taking into account part of the story is actually meant to be true) where supposedly near the latter part of theVietnam War (1970 give or take), there were experiments held by the American Army into supposed psychic ability, taking all of the people with the most ability and training them up to become Psychic Spies (or Jedi Warriors, ironically called when the main character is played by Ewan McGregor, one Obi Wan Kenobi himself) enabling them to get the upperhand in any wars over the Koreans, Chinese, Russians, Germans, whoever the hell gets onto American land.
Now, it sounds like a potentially good story to me, anything American conspiracy takes my fancy. This film ticks all the buttons (well, maybe not one). George Clooney (hilarious in Burn After Reading), Kevin Spacey (love the movie 21), Jeff Bridges (he's in Iron Man. Iron Man is epic.) and...errr... Ewan McGregor making an attempt at an American accent once again. Surely has he not realised that after his failed attempt at one in The Island (a film I very much enjoyed) that he shouldn't go back to it again? Or that failed attempt at a Scottish accent in Angels and Demons? The list goes on. And, fair play, this was better than those two attempts, but it was still pretty dire.
The film itself was fair average overall. Clooney, naturally, steals the show as the hilarious Lyn Cassady, a "retired" (see movie for reason of double inverted commas, though you can probably guess) Jedi Warrior, with an ability he lost many years ago, with numerous one liners ("I've developed the power to be invisible...well, not invisible, just found out how not to be seen") that make this film worthwhile. Spacey is fair bland as he doesn't have much to do until the last half hour, and Bridges is moderately amusing. However, one thing that kept striking me is that this should've been a Coen Brothers production, the premise is perfect for them to step up to the plate and make another Burn After Reading. But, sadly, this movie attempts a Coen Brothers movie, but without the Coen's themselves, it's just impossible.
Oh, I almost forgot.
Usually, short films seem too short or long films seem too long. Maybe long films seem short because it's an epic film. This film, for the first time ever, made a 90 minute movie into a 180 minute movie. It was short, yet incredibly long at the same time. That's the bafflement as aforementioned.
Average, really.
6.3/10.
The story is one of deep wonder, and bafflement (taking into account part of the story is actually meant to be true) where supposedly near the latter part of theVietnam War (1970 give or take), there were experiments held by the American Army into supposed psychic ability, taking all of the people with the most ability and training them up to become Psychic Spies (or Jedi Warriors, ironically called when the main character is played by Ewan McGregor, one Obi Wan Kenobi himself) enabling them to get the upperhand in any wars over the Koreans, Chinese, Russians, Germans, whoever the hell gets onto American land.
Now, it sounds like a potentially good story to me, anything American conspiracy takes my fancy. This film ticks all the buttons (well, maybe not one). George Clooney (hilarious in Burn After Reading), Kevin Spacey (love the movie 21), Jeff Bridges (he's in Iron Man. Iron Man is epic.) and...errr... Ewan McGregor making an attempt at an American accent once again. Surely has he not realised that after his failed attempt at one in The Island (a film I very much enjoyed) that he shouldn't go back to it again? Or that failed attempt at a Scottish accent in Angels and Demons? The list goes on. And, fair play, this was better than those two attempts, but it was still pretty dire.
The film itself was fair average overall. Clooney, naturally, steals the show as the hilarious Lyn Cassady, a "retired" (see movie for reason of double inverted commas, though you can probably guess) Jedi Warrior, with an ability he lost many years ago, with numerous one liners ("I've developed the power to be invisible...well, not invisible, just found out how not to be seen") that make this film worthwhile. Spacey is fair bland as he doesn't have much to do until the last half hour, and Bridges is moderately amusing. However, one thing that kept striking me is that this should've been a Coen Brothers production, the premise is perfect for them to step up to the plate and make another Burn After Reading. But, sadly, this movie attempts a Coen Brothers movie, but without the Coen's themselves, it's just impossible.
Oh, I almost forgot.
Usually, short films seem too short or long films seem too long. Maybe long films seem short because it's an epic film. This film, for the first time ever, made a 90 minute movie into a 180 minute movie. It was short, yet incredibly long at the same time. That's the bafflement as aforementioned.
Average, really.
6.3/10.
Sunday 1 November 2009
Michael Jackson's This Is It
Here comes the review of yet another star that has left us. First, Imaginarium. Now, the musical legend that is Michael Jackson. And his curtain call is an absolute belter.
This Is It is no ordinary film. In fact, it's not actually a film at all. It's 2 hours of rehearsal footage of MJ himself in the run up to his 50 date sell-out show (you can't call it a tour, it's all in one place!) in London's O2 Arena. And on the basis of the footage shown, the Show-That-Never-Will-Be would've been among the greatest shows of our time. The show was co-created by MJ and Kenny Ortega, the genius (ahem) behind the High School Musical films. Having said that, "co-creator" isn't really what Ortega does, as it shows in the footage, he just goes with whatever MJ tell's him he wants and says "Yes, do what MJ says" and just watches, clapping.
The film shows many of MJ's best songs in full rehearsal form. Songs such as Bad, Beat It, Thriller and Smooth Criminal, but to name a few. But MJ never really gives it everything in the performances. He was holding himself back, ready to unleash his absolute genius for those 50 dates, and those 50 dates only. He wouldn't sing the songs full belt in order to save it, his dance moves were much more intense than his singing, but even they were lacking in much oomph, if that's how you spell it. And even without the oomph, his dancing really is absolutely effortless.
One of the highlights of the film for me, however, was the footage of The Way You Make Me Feel and Billie Jean. The Way You Make Me Feel was breathtaking, MJ had changed the song slightly to a more acousticy feel, with just him, a piano and a small drum beat, and it was outstanding. Billie Jean was absolutely superb. In the final moments of the song, there is one spotlight, MJ and a drum beat. And that's where MJ shines. He seemingly improvises a dance routine that was close to his absolute best, and you have to wonder. In those 30 seconds, I was mesmerized. What would it be like for 90 minutes? Absolutely no one knows. And that's the sad part. It would've been absolutely incredible. But we'll never get to see it. After seeing that, I will completely blank out whatever he did that was controversial, his skin solour change or the business with kids or whatever. Michael Jackson was. An absolute genius.
A truly excellent experience, that still doesn't give full praise of the master himself. 7.6/10.
The following is for a male species that read my blog, but the female species may still read on if you're that interested.
I have no idea how, and I envy him incredibly for this. But MJ managed to find, without a doubt, the hottest guitarist in history. And she's bloody good at the old guitar too. There's footage of her improvising to the end of a song (I can't remember which song, I was mesmerised by her beauty) and that's unbelievable. Shortly afterwards, it shows her and the other guitarist doing a sort of duel/dual guitar solo, and it's just breathtakingly good. I find girls who play guitar very attractive indeed. And I've just found the best one yet. Unless Hayden Panettierre or Hayley Williams plays guitar, then they may have just been overtaken. Shocking, I know.
This Is It is no ordinary film. In fact, it's not actually a film at all. It's 2 hours of rehearsal footage of MJ himself in the run up to his 50 date sell-out show (you can't call it a tour, it's all in one place!) in London's O2 Arena. And on the basis of the footage shown, the Show-That-Never-Will-Be would've been among the greatest shows of our time. The show was co-created by MJ and Kenny Ortega, the genius (ahem) behind the High School Musical films. Having said that, "co-creator" isn't really what Ortega does, as it shows in the footage, he just goes with whatever MJ tell's him he wants and says "Yes, do what MJ says" and just watches, clapping.
The film shows many of MJ's best songs in full rehearsal form. Songs such as Bad, Beat It, Thriller and Smooth Criminal, but to name a few. But MJ never really gives it everything in the performances. He was holding himself back, ready to unleash his absolute genius for those 50 dates, and those 50 dates only. He wouldn't sing the songs full belt in order to save it, his dance moves were much more intense than his singing, but even they were lacking in much oomph, if that's how you spell it. And even without the oomph, his dancing really is absolutely effortless.
One of the highlights of the film for me, however, was the footage of The Way You Make Me Feel and Billie Jean. The Way You Make Me Feel was breathtaking, MJ had changed the song slightly to a more acousticy feel, with just him, a piano and a small drum beat, and it was outstanding. Billie Jean was absolutely superb. In the final moments of the song, there is one spotlight, MJ and a drum beat. And that's where MJ shines. He seemingly improvises a dance routine that was close to his absolute best, and you have to wonder. In those 30 seconds, I was mesmerized. What would it be like for 90 minutes? Absolutely no one knows. And that's the sad part. It would've been absolutely incredible. But we'll never get to see it. After seeing that, I will completely blank out whatever he did that was controversial, his skin solour change or the business with kids or whatever. Michael Jackson was. An absolute genius.
A truly excellent experience, that still doesn't give full praise of the master himself. 7.6/10.
The following is for a male species that read my blog, but the female species may still read on if you're that interested.
I have no idea how, and I envy him incredibly for this. But MJ managed to find, without a doubt, the hottest guitarist in history. And she's bloody good at the old guitar too. There's footage of her improvising to the end of a song (I can't remember which song, I was mesmerised by her beauty) and that's unbelievable. Shortly afterwards, it shows her and the other guitarist doing a sort of duel/dual guitar solo, and it's just breathtakingly good. I find girls who play guitar very attractive indeed. And I've just found the best one yet. Unless Hayden Panettierre or Hayley Williams plays guitar, then they may have just been overtaken. Shocking, I know.
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